WW1 Flashcards
(43 cards)
Who are the triple Alliance? AKA Central Alliance
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy
Why did Germany form Triple Alliance?
Since the Franco-Prussia war had ended (Ger won) in 1871, they claimed the French land of Alsace-Lorraine, They needed more powers since France would be mad at Ger for taking their land (AL)
What did Germany want? What did AH want? What did Italy want?
- Germany wanted an empire to rival Britain’s and isolate France
- AH wanted Ethnic nationalism (Ger, Czechs, Serbs, Slovaks wanted independence from AH)
(Serbia & Russia didn’t want to be the same ethnic group as AH) (Ger could protect them armywise in case of attack from Russia) (1879) - Italy joined in 1882
Name a main diff between Triple (Central) Alliance and Tripple Entente agreement
Triple Alliance has the rule if 1 is at war/attacked than all are. If Entente is attacked you can discuss things with each other but don’t end to fight for each other
Name members of triple Entente (AKA Allies)
France, Great Britain, Russia
What where the triple ententes personal goals?
- France to protect its self against Ger (TA), since they are still mad about losing AL and worried about Ger power
- Russia, doesn’t like AH and concerned about Ger power
3.GB wanted to sign with Russia to protect themselves
What where the MAIN caused of WW1?
M= militarism (Eu power wanted to expand territory)
A= Alliances made tension (3E and 3A)
I= Imperialism (Colonization rivalries amount Eu powers (Africa))
N= nationalism (loyalty to ones own culture and country)
What was a main spark of WW1?
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Why did men sign up for WW1
Nationalism. (They thought it would be over by Christmas)
What was the Schlieffen Plan?
Designed to avoid War on Eastern and Western front
Ger wanted to invade France through Belgium so that Ger could focus on Russia
This avoids dividing forces into 2 fronts
What was plan 17
French want to attack Ger through Alsace Loraine
How did the Schlieffen plan result and go
German had more men, Belgium used forts to protect themselves, Ger had big birtha (Largest cannons) While Ger was invading through Belgium, Russia crossed the boarder of Ger and outnumbered them .
Describe the invasion of Belgium
Brit and french had time to mobilize while Ger invaded Belgium. Germans won and invaded by early august. Brits come in late august and push Germans back. They all raced to the sea to get the English Chanel
Describe why they build trenches?
-protect themselves from snippers and shell fire, later added machine guns and barbed wire .
How did the war on the western front end?
Reached a stalemate
How did germanys plan fail?
The Schliefen plan fails bc Frances does not fall in 6 weeks, Russia mobilizes much faster than expected, Germany is now fighting on 2 fronts
Why it failed: Ger assumed Belgiumwoldnt put up much a fight, Didn’t expect Britain to join and come Belgiums aid, Assumed Russia wouldn’t mobilize quickly
What is trenches? (Name parts)
The cross section barbed wire for defence, sandbagparapet for protection, fire step, duck boards, parados for artillery and canons
Who has the best trenches?
Germans along western front, with zig zag formation
Periscope?
Scope to look through without being shot
What is trudging?
Go to other side of enemy
Describe attack in the trenches?
The artillery barrage attack a sides artiliry bombards enemy trenches, once barrage ends attacking troops go over the top to NML and rush, defending troops rush out of their trenched to set up machine guns, defenders have an advantage swept attacking troops with machine gun fire, if the attackers captured a trench they had to hold it which often proved impossible
Conditions of trenches?
-Horrific conditions
-constant smell lice and rats
-little sleep since most activity’s wher at night, soldiers in front lines slept in d’ouïgours in the trenches
Describe gases.
The poisonous gas was first used by Germans at Ypres in 1915
Chlorine was the first gas used
What where the Allies reaction to gases used?
They made temporary gas masks out of cloth with urine, developed gases of their own, such as Phosgene gas and mustard gas